Behind the Books Bi-Weekly Update 12 January 2026

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. I hope you haven’t missed me too much, but here I am again with another catch-up for all you wonderful people who are dying to get into the industry just as much as I am. So, without further ado, here’s another segment of the blind leading the blind!

Nothing too urgent to report, which is why this update has come a little late, I hadn’t had much going on with my journey into the industry for a while. I’ve only just started applying for publishing jobs again since my temp role ended (and I’ve learned that taking breaks when things get difficult is sometimes necessary).

That said, I do have some news.

Before the Christmas break, I shared a list of people in the publishing industry with my mentor who I felt could offer invaluable advice. They ranged from directors and heads of departments to talent acquisition professionals, freelancers, and assistants across editorial, marketing, recruitment, rights, and more. She very kindly reached out through her own connections to help put me in touch, and some of those names have come back to me. Hopefully, once I reach out, I’ll be able to arrange a few one-to-one conversations, widen my circle, and feel more involved than I usually do.

It’s not necessarily a foot in the door, but you never know what might come of something. You have to have a little faith in the process. It’s easy to dismiss something before it’s even had the chance to blossom.

My mentor also mentioned that January has been unusually quiet, which honestly gave me some comfort. A lot of people are struggling to hear back from applications, even those at higher levels, so it helps to know it’s not just me. Having someone on the inside who can guide you (or even just put your mind at ease) makes such a difference.

And to all my lost bookworms,

Stay Steadfast x